Oprah Talks to Quincy Jones

Oprah: Now that your children are grown and you have grandchildren, how old do you feel?

Quincy: About 24. When the doctor gave me a heart test, he said, "People would kill for the 22-year-old heart you have! How old is your girlfriend?" I said, "Twenty-nine." He said, "She's too old." What I've learned is that there's no advantage to growing up. Grown-ups take themselves too seriously.

Oprah: Are there still things you want to do?

Quincy: Oh, yes. My dream is to put together a performance of the evolution of black music with Cirque du Soleil [an international troupe that blends circus and performing arts]. I would also like to do street opera and children's books. But even as I work toward these things, I want to simplify my life.

Oprah: How will you do all this and still simplify your life?

Quincy: Well, I can't just sit and fish for six months. Once you're not needed, you're done. Every day you must be able to say, I have to get up because I'm needed by someone. As long as you have that, you're healthy.

Oprah: Q, I've never met one person who doesn't love you. Where did your big, open heart come from?

Quincy: It came because people were good to me, honey. Though negative things have happened to me, God somehow let me know that becoming bitter was not the way to go. You die when you do that. Someone once told me that if you fully open your arms to receive love, you'll get some scratches and cuts on your arms, but a lot of love will come in. If you close your arms, you might never get cut—but the good stuff won't come in either.

Oprah: And right now, you're sitting up here on a hill at the top of Bel Air!

Quincy: There is a God! They say a blind hog will find the acorn one day.

Oprah: This has been great, Q. I'm so proud of you.

Quincy: I'm proud of you, too, sweetheart. I love you.